Advancing in wastewater treatment using sustainable electrosorbents

Abstract

Separation and purification processes using adsorption are becoming more and more popular, with excellent benefit-cost ratio and high effluent quality. However, it is important to recognize the requirement for new adsorbents and to avoid the generation of contaminated adsorbents that can have a severe impact on the environment. Thus, underscoring the need for sustainable approaches in the management and regeneration of these materials. To improve this process, two challenges are being approached nowadays: the synthesis of adsorbents from wastes in a circular economy model and its integration with electrochemistry (electrosorption) to enhance the adsorbent capacity and its regeneration by green electricity. This review summarizes the key studies and trends related to electrosorption (60 articles) and its application in the removal of different pollutants from wastewater. It must be highlighted that around 33% of them, detailed the synthesis of green electrosorbents with application in the removal of inorganic and organic pollutants. In addition, other studies with non-sustainable electrodes (approximately 23%) describe the last trend to improve electrosorbent characteristics. From our standpoint, it is crucial to delve into this research, particularly regarding their application to green electrosorbents to enhance the efficiency of electrosorption processes, a potential breakthrough in the field.